The Bobcats breezed past Des Moines Lincoln and Ottumwa on a windy Wednesday at the MHS Tennis Courts. MHS blanked the Railsplitters, 11-0, and leashed the Bulldogs, 10-1.

“We persevered through a windy morning against Lincoln and had some of our highest singles play of the year against Ottumwa,” MHS head coach James Christensen said.

Ottumwa’s Toby Schmidt spoiled Marshalltown’s chance at a clean sweep with a 7-5, 7-5 win over Isaac Benscoter at No. 1 singles.

It was the only two sets MHS dropped all day.

T-R PHOTO BY JAKE RYDER - Marshalltown junior Isaac Benscoter hits an overhand smash at the net during Wednesday’s tennis meet at the Marshalltown Court Complex.

“That’s still a pretty fantastic performance from [Benscoter],” Christensen said. “And he came back in doubles with [Jacob Thiessen] against a great team and came out with a straight-set victory there.”

At No. 2 singles, Thiessen recorded a signature win against Logan Storto, who had not lost entering Wednesday’s action against Mason City and the Bobcats. Thiessen won 6-2, 6-2.

“That was by far the smartest match he’s played all year,” Christensen said. “He played within himself against a really tough opponent.”

Thiessen is one of three co-captains for the Bobcats this year along with Benscoter and Carson Snyder, entering Wednesday’s action with a 2-5 record at No. 2 singles.

“My play was pretty lousy at the start of the year,” Thiessen said. “But when I got to play Pleasant Valley and Waukee Northwest last Saturday, playing them was really good for me, and I think I’ve kind of gotten back in the rhythm of things.”

Christensen also referenced last Saturday’s triangular with the Spartans and Wolves, where Marshalltown didn’t win a single match in spite of some tough battles, as a turning point for the Bobcats.

“Playing some of these tough opponents we’ve had, we’re really starting to shine through with some of the experience in play that we’ve had,” Christensen said. “All the way down, we had some great performances. … Four and five doubles had a couple games early on where they were feeling stuff out but they woke up as well and played pretty well.”

Benscoter and Thiessen knocked off Storto and Schmidt, 7-5, 6-3, at No. 1 doubles.

Both Benscoter and Thiessen were part of strong doubles teams last year with partners that have now graduated, including a state-qualifying duo in Benscoter and Drew Loney.

“Isaac’s gotten so much better over the offseason,” Thiessen said. “It’s a lot of fun to play with him, and it’s always a good thing when you have a doubles partner you can trust. … It’s like it was with Jason (Strand), I’m at that point with Isaac where I know if the ball goes over my head I know he’s going to hit a winner over the net.”

After going through some tough competition, the Bobcats are ready to go.

“The varsity lineup are not guys I would’ve thought at the start of the year would’ve been good as seniors, but we’ve just had guys step up,” Thiessen said. “Dale [Green] just started playing three years ago and is playing three singles. We’re so deep up and down and I’m really proud of everybody.”

Marshalltown is scheduled to play at Des Moines East next Monday.

Marshalltown 11, Des Moines Lincoln 0

SINGLES

Isaac Benscoter (MHS) def. Liam Miller, 6-2, 6-0

Jacob Thiessen (MHS) def. Ethan Copic, 6-0, 6-3

Dale Greene (MHS) def. Aaron Ito, 6-1, 6-0

Carson Snyder (MHS) def. Judd Dietrich, 6-1, 6-3

Jacob Christen (MHS) def. John Redick, 6-1, 6-1

Adam Boone (MHS) def. Nate Worthington, 6-1, 6-2

DOUBLES

Benscoter and Thiessen (MHS) def. Miller and Copic, 6-0, 6-2

Greene and Snyder (MHS) def. Ito and Dietrich, 6-4, 6-1

Christen and Boone (MHS) def. Redick and Worthington, 6-2, 6-1

Isaac Seberger and Tayven Dutton (MHS) def. Davis Bailey and Dominic Carlino, 6-0, 6-0

Kyle Smith and Will Swartz (MHS) def. Micheal Nhan and Sang Vo, 6-0, 6-0

Marshalltown 10, Ottumwa 1

SINGLES

Toby Schmidt (O) def. Benscoter, 7-5, 7-5

Thiessen (MHS) def. Logan Storto, 6-2, 6-2

Greene (MHS) def. DJ Rath, 6-3, 6-2

Snyder (MHS) def. Caleb Ziegler, 6-2, 6-3

Christen (MHS) def. Josh Shoemaker, 6-2, 6-0

Boone (MHS) def. Moe Merrill, 6-4, 6-1

DOUBLES

Benscoter and Thiessen (MHS) def. Schmidt and Storto, 7-5, 6-3

Greene and Snyder (MHS) def. Rath and Shoemaker, 6-2, 6-4

Christen and Boone (MHS) def. Ziegler and Merrill, 6-2, 6-3

Seberger and Dutton (MHS) def. Hayden Palmer and Marcus Storto, 6-1, 6-0

Smith and Swartz (MHS) def. Jaxson Ford and Luke Ford, 6-3, 6-2

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